Hi all,
I know its been a few days since I've blogged. We left Barcelona, came to Milan but didn't stop, Pisa's internet was broken and we've hit the site seeing of Rome hard. So, what can I fill you in on?
The travesty of HSBC has finally been resolved. It required a long phone call off an international line to finally speak to an operator who informed me the fraud protection team had blocked my card 'for my own benefit'. It transpires HSBC believed that to get from Portugal to Poland in 5 weeks travelling through Europe meant I would only use my card in Portugal and Poland...a steaming letter of complaint has already been sent.
An uber painful night-train; given our poverty in Barcelona we were forced to take the standard seat option for our transport to Milan - a 14.5hour journey through the French Alps and then back down to Italy. For the privilege of cramp in a 'reclining' seat that was so uncomfortable it saw people sleeping on the floor we had to pay 50 Euro, sit in stifling heat, and suffer another 2 hours delay on the journey.
The train wasn't without entertainment. With practically nothing to eat and drink in Barcelona (and another trip to the beach) dehydration kept us wired. I found myself getting the stretch bands out and finding a quiet place in the wee hours of the morning to try and exercise myself tired....3am full workout in a toilet cubicle is definitely an experience. Our day exertions, including a swim in the freezing Barca waters also meant we smelt like dogs. A special 'shower in a sink' is also an achievement in a moving train toilet...
The night also brought with it drama, when crossing the border brought the French police. Although they were dressed like the character, they were NOT as friendly as the policeman in Allo Allo - dragging the man sat opposite me off the train for failing to have a valid passport extension, giving him next to no time to grab his bags and shuffle off. What was left after that was one empty seat, and an eerie atmosphere...
On a lighter note, Phil technically had a beer in France as we went to the 'food carriage' for something to do at 4am.
Milan : To feel solid ground beneath the feet certainly was a relief. But after 16.5 hours of discomfort to be confronted with a further 1 hour queue to book the train to Pisa (there were 2 ticket operators for a queue of near 100 people) was not a great start. Unfortunately, Milan as a place fared no better. The city is ugly compared to the beauty of Valencia and Barcelona preceding it and relatively tourist unfriendly. Its heavily geared for the fashionista, and as Phil has no fashion sense and I have no patience for shopping, this aspect of the city was totally lost on us. We were practically stranded in a sea of high end shops...
We did visit Il Duormo - the world's grandest gothic cathedral, and unlike the disappointment of Sagrada Familia, we were able to head to the roof. As Milan was only a day trip we had the predicament of tight winding towerlets of stairs and the inevitable police checks to navigate our heavy backpacks through. Despite having enough on our shoulders to put the average infantryman to shame, and a turning circle as wide as that of a small lorry, we eventually stumbled our way up to an impressive vista of Milan at the top of the cathedral. We've certainly had cathedral overload of late, and shall be seeking to take a few days rest from these beautiful, promiment buildings.
We found little else to mention of Milan...we stumbled across the Italian equivalent of Greggs (fast fast fast bakery food) and both ended up buying reading material for the train at high prices, but apart from that, the only other item of merit was a 'cup of tea', served Italiano style in a pretentious cafe down a side alley - Prince of Wales tea. Intrigued, I opted for a cup, which is served black, and tastes like a cross between Earl Grey and Green Tea; the equivalent of drinking dirty dish water effectively. There is just no point seeking out an alternative...the English Breakfast cup is in a league of its own....
I know its been a few days since I've blogged. We left Barcelona, came to Milan but didn't stop, Pisa's internet was broken and we've hit the site seeing of Rome hard. So, what can I fill you in on?
The travesty of HSBC has finally been resolved. It required a long phone call off an international line to finally speak to an operator who informed me the fraud protection team had blocked my card 'for my own benefit'. It transpires HSBC believed that to get from Portugal to Poland in 5 weeks travelling through Europe meant I would only use my card in Portugal and Poland...a steaming letter of complaint has already been sent.
An uber painful night-train; given our poverty in Barcelona we were forced to take the standard seat option for our transport to Milan - a 14.5hour journey through the French Alps and then back down to Italy. For the privilege of cramp in a 'reclining' seat that was so uncomfortable it saw people sleeping on the floor we had to pay 50 Euro, sit in stifling heat, and suffer another 2 hours delay on the journey.
The train wasn't without entertainment. With practically nothing to eat and drink in Barcelona (and another trip to the beach) dehydration kept us wired. I found myself getting the stretch bands out and finding a quiet place in the wee hours of the morning to try and exercise myself tired....3am full workout in a toilet cubicle is definitely an experience. Our day exertions, including a swim in the freezing Barca waters also meant we smelt like dogs. A special 'shower in a sink' is also an achievement in a moving train toilet...
The night also brought with it drama, when crossing the border brought the French police. Although they were dressed like the character, they were NOT as friendly as the policeman in Allo Allo - dragging the man sat opposite me off the train for failing to have a valid passport extension, giving him next to no time to grab his bags and shuffle off. What was left after that was one empty seat, and an eerie atmosphere...
On a lighter note, Phil technically had a beer in France as we went to the 'food carriage' for something to do at 4am.
Milan : To feel solid ground beneath the feet certainly was a relief. But after 16.5 hours of discomfort to be confronted with a further 1 hour queue to book the train to Pisa (there were 2 ticket operators for a queue of near 100 people) was not a great start. Unfortunately, Milan as a place fared no better. The city is ugly compared to the beauty of Valencia and Barcelona preceding it and relatively tourist unfriendly. Its heavily geared for the fashionista, and as Phil has no fashion sense and I have no patience for shopping, this aspect of the city was totally lost on us. We were practically stranded in a sea of high end shops...
We did visit Il Duormo - the world's grandest gothic cathedral, and unlike the disappointment of Sagrada Familia, we were able to head to the roof. As Milan was only a day trip we had the predicament of tight winding towerlets of stairs and the inevitable police checks to navigate our heavy backpacks through. Despite having enough on our shoulders to put the average infantryman to shame, and a turning circle as wide as that of a small lorry, we eventually stumbled our way up to an impressive vista of Milan at the top of the cathedral. We've certainly had cathedral overload of late, and shall be seeking to take a few days rest from these beautiful, promiment buildings.
We found little else to mention of Milan...we stumbled across the Italian equivalent of Greggs (fast fast fast bakery food) and both ended up buying reading material for the train at high prices, but apart from that, the only other item of merit was a 'cup of tea', served Italiano style in a pretentious cafe down a side alley - Prince of Wales tea. Intrigued, I opted for a cup, which is served black, and tastes like a cross between Earl Grey and Green Tea; the equivalent of drinking dirty dish water effectively. There is just no point seeking out an alternative...the English Breakfast cup is in a league of its own....
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